Multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus including a bracket, a seat, a power module, at least one exercise module, and a control system is provided. The seat is disposed on the bracket. The power module is securely disposed on the bracket and is located outside the seat. The at least one exercise module is disposed on the power module and connected to the power module. The control system is electrically coupled to the power module, and is configured to adjust a resistance of the power module and adapted to switch the power module to an active mode or a passive mode. An external force is applied to the at least one exercise module and is transmitted to the power module to overcome the resistance of the power module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/877,842, filed on Jul. 24, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus, and in particular, to a multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

The existing fitness or rehabilitation equipment may be designed as a specific exercise apparatus according to different parts of a body to allow a user to use a corresponding exercise apparatus according to a training requirement, thereby achieving the purpose of increasing body strength. However, the existing fitness or rehabilitation equipment only has a single function, and one exercise apparatus can only train a specific body muscle group. Therefore, if another muscle group needs to be trained, different types of exercise apparatuses need to be purchased, which requires more placement space and there is a lack practicability. Therefore, the existing fitness or rehabilitation equipment is only suitable for being placed in a wide public space, and is not suitable for being placed in a house.

In addition, the existing fitness or rehabilitation equipment generally adjusts a value of a resistance of an exercise apparatus manually according to a requirement of a user during training, for example, adjusts a weight of a counterweight or increases and decreases a value of torsion by using a control panel. However, the manual adjustment manner cannot reflect the degree of fatigue of the user in real time, and is likely to cause excessive training or even injury.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides a multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus, which is adapted to replace or add exercise modules with different functions to allow a user to train muscle groups of different parts in a same exercise apparatus, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing replacement space and increasing practicability.

The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus of the disclosure includes a bracket, a seat, a power module, at least one exercise module, and a control system. The seat is disposed on the bracket. The power module is securely disposed on the bracket and is located outside the seat. The at least one exercise module is disposed on the power module and connected to the power module. The control system is electrically coupled to the power module, and is configured to adjust a resistance of the power module and adapted to switch the power module to an active mode or a passive mode. An external force is applied to the at least one exercise module and is transmitted to the power module to overcome the resistance of the power module.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the number of the at least one exercise module is plural, the exercise modules are stacked on each other on the power module, and when one of the exercise modules is selected by the control system, the control system releases connection relationships between the rest of exercise modules and the power module.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, when a plurality of exercise modules is selected by the control system, the plurality of exercise modules is connected to the power module, and a plurality of external forces is respectively applied to the plurality of exercise modules and is transmitted to the power module.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the power module is switched to the active mode by the control system, the power module is adapted to generate an auxiliary power to drive the corresponding exercise module, and when the power module is switched to the passive mode by the control system, the power module is configured to consume the external force passing through the exercise module.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the power module includes a first housing, a power source, and a drive shaft, the power source is securely disposed in the first housing, a first end of the drive shaft penetrates the housing and is connected to the at least one exercise module, and a second end of the drive shaft is connected to a first rotation shaft of the power source.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one exercise module includes a second housing and a gear set, the second housing is stacked on the first housing, and the first end of the drive shaft penetrates the second housing and is connected to the gear set of the exercise module.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one exercise module includes a second housing, the second housing is stacked on the first housing, and the first end of the drive shaft penetrates the second housing.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the power module includes a generator, the generator is securely disposed in the first housing and is aligned to the power source, and the second end of the drive shaft is connected to a second rotation shaft of the generator.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the power module includes a torque sensor, and the torque sensor is sleeved on the drive shaft and is configured to detect a value of the torque generated when the drive shaft pivots.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a muscle perception module is further included, where the muscle perception module is electrically coupled to the control system and is configured to detect a muscle status of a user and to convert the status into a perception signal, and the control system receives and reads the perception signal to determine the muscle status of the user.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the control system determines that the muscle of the user is in a tired status, the control system reduces the resistance of the power module, and when the control system determines that the muscle of the user is in an energetic status, the control system increases the resistance of the power module.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, an angle, speed, and acceleration perception module is further included, where the angle, speed, and acceleration module is electrically coupled to the control system and is configured to detect a physical training status of a user and to convert the status into a perception signal, and the control system receives the perception signal to determine a limb spread angle of the user.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the control system is adapted to dynamically adjust the resistance of the power module according to the limb spread angle.

Based on the above, the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus of the disclosure combines the power module and at least one exercise module. A user may replace or add exercise modules with different functions according to a requirement to allow the user to train muscle groups of different parts in the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus, and a manner in which a plurality of types of fitness equipment is used may be replaced to achieve an objective of reducing replacement space and increasing practicability. In addition, the control system may automatically adjust the resistance of the power module according to the degree of fatigue of the user, or dynamically adjust a proper resistance during an exercise process, so that a case of excessive training or even injury of the user can be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic circuit diagram of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a schematic connection diagram of a power module and an exercise module of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of use of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a curve relationship diagram of a limb spread angle and a torque of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 1B is a schematic circuit diagram of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a schematic connection diagram of a power module and an exercise module of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of use of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus in FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100 of the disclosure may be, for example, fitness equipment or rehabilitation equipment, which is configured to train muscle groups of different parts of a human body.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100 of this embodiment includes a bracket 110, a seat 120, a power module 130, at least one exercise module 140, and a control system 150.

The bracket 110 is, for example, made of metal materials and is disposed on a plane. The seat 120 is disposed on the bracket 110, and the seat 120 is fixed on the bracket 110, for example, by using cooperation between concave and convex, locking of screws, or in another manner.

The power module 130 is securely fixed on the bracket 110 and is located outside the seat 120. In the present embodiment, the power module 130 may be a device that can generate power or resistance, such as a motor, a magnetorheological fluid device, an electrorheological fluid device, an electromagnetic device, a hydraulic valve, or an air valve. The at least one exercise module 140 is disposed on the power module 130 and the at least one exercise module 140 is connected to the power module 130. The exercise module 140 may be a treadmill, a rowing machine, a flywheel, an elliptical trainer, or another type of fitness equipment, and this is not limited in the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1C and FIG. 2, the control system 150 is electrically coupled to the power module 130, and is configured to adjust a resistance of the power module 130 and adapted to switch the power module 130 to an active mode or a passive mode. Specifically, the control system 150, serving as a control core of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100, achieves the objective of increasing and decreasing the resistance by changing strength of an electric field or flow of gas and liquid. In practical terms, a user takes the seat 120 and applies an external force F to the at least one exercise module 140, and the external force is transmitted to the power module 130 to overcome the resistance of the power module 130. In this way, the user can enhance the muscle group of a particular part by continuously applying the external force to the at least one exercise module 140.

Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, in the present embodiment, the number of the at least one exercise module 140 is plural. The plurality of exercise modules 140 are stacked on each other on the power module 130, and when one of the exercise modules 140 is selected by the control system 150, the control system 150 releases connection relationships between the other exercise modules 140 and the power module 130.

Specifically, the plurality of exercise modules 140 respectively includes different fitness functions. In actual application, a user selects one of the exercise modules 140 by using the control system 150, and may select to detach the other exercise modules 140 or to make the power module 130 bypass the other exercise modules 140 by using the control system 150, that is, the other exercise modules and the power module are no longer connected. When the user selects another exercise module 140, a required exercise module 140 may be switched in the same manner. The user may further select a plurality of exercise modules 140 by using the control system 150, the plurality of exercise modules 140 is connected to the power module 130, and a plurality of external forces from different parts of a body is applied to the plurality of exercise modules 140 and is transmitted to the power module 130, to allow the user to train a plurality of muscle groups simultaneously. Therefore, the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100 of the disclosure is adapted to merge different types of fitness equipment.

In other embodiments, the plurality of exercise modules 140 is respectively combined with a plurality of power modules 130 to be mounted around the bracket. In this way, the user does not need to switch to another exercise module 140 and execute a bypass program by using the control system 150, and the user only needs to directly drive a corresponding exercise module 140 through a particular part (for example, two feet, two hands, back, or the like) of a body.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, in an embodiment of the disclosure, the power module 130 includes a first housing 131, a power source 132, and a drive shaft 133. The power source 132 may be a motor and is securely disposed in the first housing 131, a first end E1 of the drive shaft 133 penetrates the first housing 131 and is connected to the at least one exercise module 140, and a second end E2 of the drive shaft 133 is connected to a first rotation shaft S1 of the power source 132.

Each of the exercise modules 140 includes a second housing 141 and a gear set 142. One of the second housings 141 is stacked on the first housing 131 of the power module 130, and the second housings 141 of the other exercise modules 140 are sequentially stacked upward, to make the power module 130 and the plurality of exercise modules 140 form a tower-shaped structure. The first end E1 of the drive shaft 133 rotatably penetrates the second housings 141 and is connected to the gear sets 142 of the exercise modules 140.

In the present embodiment, the external force F of the user is transmitted to the exercise module 140 and drives the gear set 142 to rotate, the gear set 142 drives the drive shaft 133 simultaneously, and a corresponding rotational speed is increased to according to a reduction-gear ratio of the gear set 142. In this way, the torsion load of the power module 130 is reduced, the load capacity of the power module 130 is improved, and for the user, the resistance during the training is increased. An effect of using the gear set 142 is that a power module 130 with a relatively small resistance may be selected.

In the present embodiment, an exercise module 140 a is further included, and the drive shaft 133 of the power module 130 is pivoted to a second housing 141 a. The second housing 141 a of the exercise module 140 a is stacked between two second housings 141 of two exercise modules 140. The exercise module 140 a is configured to transmit the external force F decelerated by the upper exercise module 140 to the lower exercise module 140, and the exercise module 140 a may increase the height of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100, to be applicable to users with different heights and different limb lengths.

Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, the power module 130 includes a generator 134 and a torque sensor 135. The generator 134 is securely disposed in the first housing 131 and is aligned to the power source 132. The second end E2 of the drive shaft 133 is connected to a second rotation shaft S2 of the generator 134, and when the external force F drives the drive shaft 133, the second rotation shaft S2 is driven to axially pivot, so that the generator 134 generates electro-magnetic induction to generate electric energy, and the electric energy generated by the generator 134 may be stored in an external accumulator. The torque sensor 135 is sleeved on the drive shaft 133 and is configured to detect a value of a torque T generated when the drive shaft 133 pivots, and to transmit the torque T back to the control system 150, to record the training status of the user.

Referring to FIG. 1C and FIG. 2, the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100 further includes a muscle perception module 160, an angle, speed, and acceleration perception module 170, and a power supply 180.

The muscle perception module 160 is electrically coupled to the control system 150 and is configured to detect a muscle status of a user 200 and to convert the status into a perception signal, and the control system 150 receives and reads the perception signal to determine the muscle status of the user. When the control system 150 determines that the muscle of the user 200 is in a tired status, the control system 150 reduces the resistance of the power module 130, and when the control system 150 determines that the muscle of the user 200 is in an energetic status, the control system 150 increases the resistance of the power module 130. In addition, the muscle perception module 160 may be, for example, an electrode patch attached on the to-be-trained muscle group of the user, the muscle perception module 160 analyses the strength, quantity of times, and acceleration of the user during the training process, and compares with entropy of the muscle group, to obtain a perception signal waveform of the muscle group in a tired status.

The angle, speed, and acceleration perception module 170 is electrically coupled to the control system 150 and is configured to detect a physical training process of the user 200 and to convert the process into a perception signal. The control system 150 receives the perception signal to determine a limb spread angle of the user 200. The control system 150 dynamically adjusts the resistance of the power module 130 according to the limb spread angle. In the present embodiment, for example, the angle, speed, and acceleration perception module 170 uses an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or another similar sensor. In addition, the strength of the limbs of the user 200 in a spread process is dynamically changed. Therefore, the limb spread angle, speed, and acceleration may be detected by the angle, speed, and acceleration perception module 170, and then an optimal resistance curve during the physical training is obtained by using an algorithms of the control system 150. The power supply 180 is coupled to the power module 130 and provides electric energy required by the control system 150, the muscle perception module 160, the angle, speed, and acceleration perception module 170, the power source 132, and the torque sensor 135 for working.

A use process of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100 is described below in detail. Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 2, the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100 is started, and one of the exercise modules 140 is selected. In this case, the power module 130 is set as an active mode or a passive mode. When the control system 150 switches the power module 130 to the active mode, the power module 130 is adapted to generate an auxiliary power to drive the corresponding exercise module 140, and this is suitable for a rehabilitator or a person lacking of strength.

FIG. 3 is a curve relationship diagram of a limb spread angle and a torque of the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus. When the control system 150 switches the power module 130 to the passive mode, the power module 130 is configured to consume the external force F passing through the exercise module 140. Further, in the passive mode, the user may not select a torque curve, which indicates that the resistance of the power module 130 is changeless during the training process. For example, when the control system 150 sets the resistance (torque) of the power module 130 as 50 Nm, the external force F of the limbs of the user applied to the exercise module 140 needs to overcome the resistance (torque) of 50 Nm.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the passive mode, when the user selects a torque curve, it indicates that the resistance of the power module 130 is dynamically changed during the training process. FIG. 3 is a plurality of curve graphs included by the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus 100. Curves L1 to L7 respectively represent the lowest to the highest training resistance (torque) of the power module 130. For example, when the control system 150 sets a curve L3, it indicates that when the limb spread angle is 90 degree, and the resistance (torque) of the power module 130 is 21 Nm. When the limb spread angle decreases to 60 degree, the resistance (torque) of the power module 130 is dynamically increased to 26 Nm. Then, in a range from 60 degree to 0 degree of the limb spread angle, the resistance (torque) of the power module 130 is dynamically decreased from 26 Nm to 14 Nm. Training efficiency of the limbs at different spread angles can be improved through the dynamic change of the resistance.

Further, with reference to the foregoing muscle perception module 160, when the user selects one of the curves L1 to L7, the muscle status of the user may be determined through the perception signal, and the curves L1 to L7 applicable to the user may be automatically adjusted. For example, when the control system 150 sets the curve L4 and has trained for a period of time, a perception signal fed back by the muscle perception module 160 to the control system 150 is determined as an energetic status, the control system 150 may determine that the curve L4 is excessively light for the user, and automatically select the curve L5 to increase the intensity of training. On the contrary, when the control system 150 determines that the curve L4 is excessively heavy for the user, the control system 150 automatically selects the curve L3 to decrease the intensity of training.

Based on the above, the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus of the disclosure combines the power module and at least one exercise module. A user may replace or add exercise modules with different functions according to a requirement, to allow the user to train muscle groups of different parts in the multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus, and a manner in which a plurality of types of fitness equipment is used may be replaced to achieve an objective of reducing replacement space and increasing practicability. In addition, the control system may automatically adjust the resistance of the power module according to the degree of fatigue of the user, or dynamically adjust a proper resistance during an exercise process, so that a case of excessive training or even injury of the user can be avoided. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus, comprising: a bracket; a seat, disposed on the bracket; a power module, securely disposed on the bracket and located outside the seat; at least one exercise module, disposed on the power module and connected to the power module; and a control system, electrically coupled to the power module, configured to adjust a resistance of the power module and adapted to switch the power module to an active mode or a passive mode, wherein an external force is applied to the at least one exercise module and is transmitted to the power module to overcome the resistance of the power module.
 2. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one exercise module is plural, the exercise modules are stacked one on each other on the power module, and when one of the exercise modules is selected by the control system, the control system releases connection relationships between the rest of exercise modules and the power module.
 3. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when some of the exercise modules are selected by the control system, the exercise modules are connected to the power module, and a plurality of external forces is respectively applied to the exercise modules and is transmitted to the power module.
 4. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the power module is switched to the active mode by the control system, the power module is adapted to generate an auxiliary power to drive the corresponding exercise module, and when the power module is switched to the passive mode by the control system, the power module is configured to consume the external force passing through the exercise module.
 5. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power module has a first housing, a power source, and a drive shaft, the power source is securely disposed in the first housing, a first end of the drive shaft penetrates the housing and is connected to the at least one exercise module, and a second end of the drive shaft is connected to a first rotation shaft of the power source.
 6. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one exercise module has a second housing and a gear set, the second housing is stacked on the first housing, and the first end of the drive shaft penetrates the second housing and is connected to the gear set of the at least one exercise module.
 7. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one exercise module has a second housing, the second housing is stacked on the first housing, and the first end of the drive shaft penetrates the second housing.
 8. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the power module has a generator, the generator is securely disposed in the first housing and is aligned to the power source, and the second end of the drive shaft is connected to a second rotation shaft of the generator.
 9. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the power module has a torque sensor, and the torque sensor is sleeved on the drive shaft and is configured to detect a value of a torque generated when the drive shaft pivots.
 10. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a muscle perception module, wherein the muscle perception module is electrically coupled to the control system and is configured to detect a muscle status of a user and to convert the muscle status into a perception signal, and the control system receives and reads the perception signal to determine the muscle status of the user.
 11. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the control system determines that the user's muscle is in a tired status, the control system reduces the resistance of the power module, and when the control system determines that the user's muscle is in an energetic status, the control system increases the resistance of the power module.
 12. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an angle, speed, and acceleration perception module, wherein the angle, speed, and acceleration module is electrically coupled to the control system and configured to detect a physical training status of a user and to convert the status into a perception signal, and the control system receives the perception signal to determine a limb spread angle, speed, and acceleration of the user.
 13. The multi-functional modularized exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control system is adapted to dynamically adjust the resistance of the power module according to the limb spread angle, speed, and acceleration. 